The eighth Crown Prince Camel Festival 2026 came to a close in Taif, held under the patronage of HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, with leading camel owners and competitors from the Kingdom and the Gulf taking part.

HRH Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region, crowned the winners of the festival's final races at a ceremony organized by the Saudi Camel Racing Federation at the historic Taif Camel Racing Track.

The ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and HH Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Chairman of the Saudi Camel Racing Federation, along with a number of royals and senior officials.

The final stage featured four races over 6 kilometers, with 114 of the finest Saudi and Gulf camels competing for the Zumool and Hail titles and the prizes allocated to each round.

In the Zumool (General) race, Al Maidi, owned by Emirati Hamad Al Ameri, took first place and the ceremonial rifle along with a SAR 1 million prize, while Nahab, from the UAE Presidential Camels, won the Zumool (Open) title, also taking the rifle and SAR 1 million.

In the Hail category, Intibah, owned by Saudi Aqab Mohammed Al Dahasi, claimed the Hail (General) title, earning the ceremonial sword and SAR 1.5 million. In the Hail (Open) race, Taraf, from Qatar's Al Shahaniya Camels, took the title, the sword and a SAR 1.5 million prize.

Saudi owner Abdullah Al Qahtani was also honored after winning the Crown Prince Camel Festival Points Cup, receiving the championship trophy and a SAR 500,000 prize.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said the Crown Prince's patronage reflects the support Saudi sport in general, and camel racing in particular, enjoys, noting that camels are an authentic heritage tied to the Kingdom's culture and identity.

Through its eighth edition, the Crown Prince Camel Festival continues to raise the profile of this heritage sport, turning it into a major competitive event that attracts camel owners and participants from across the Kingdom and the Gulf.